would like to invite you to the 17th Annual Hanohano Huki Ocean Challenge to be held in Mission Bay, San Diego, Ca. on January 26th, 2013.

The Hanohano Huki Ocean Challenge is one of the Longest Running Paddlesport Races in California (OC-1, Surfski, Traditional Paddleboard, Standup Paddleboard and Kayak) We’ve always had a great mix of top level professional athletes and beginners from ages 7-80. I’d like to encourage you to visit our Web site for more details: www.hanohano.com/ocean-challenge

Important Notes on the event:

***Pre-Registration is highly suggested. Hanohano OCC in conjunction with the So Cal Winter Racing series is breaking new ground with a paddling friendly registration platform at PaddleGuru. Preregistration will help eliminate delays on race morning as well as cut down on paddler error while registering with our new online format.

If you are already registered through Active.com, your registration has already been transferred to PaddleGuru. You have been sent an email from PaddleGuru about setting up your PaddleGuru account password.

***Food…Breakfast snack items and coffee will be available for free in the morning. Lunch will be an additional fee with menu items beginning at $5.00. Please bring cash. The new lunch format allows us account for the increased number of mouths to feed while keeping your race fee below $25.00…Bring a water bottle, we will have Gatorade and water to fill them up. We will also have complimentary Vitacoco and Sambazon

***Raffle: Hanohano OCC still boasts the best Raffle west of the Mississippi…bring some dough and have a chance at a Brand New Huki OC-1 and a ton of other great product from our sponsors and vendors.

***PFD’s are required on all paddlecraft with the exception of Prone paddleboard. Leashes are suggested for use on the long course for OC-1’s and Surfski’s

***Paddlers are required to know the course and behave in a sportsmanlike manner…Please come to the assistance of fellow paddlers in distress. Paddlers are required to affix their assigned Race bib to their chest so that it is visible to the volunteers on the finish boats. Paddlers must finish between the two anchored boats in Bonita Cove and report their assigned race number. Failure to follow finish protocol will result in a dnf . Don’t be selfish…your behavior affects all race participants.

7:30–9:00 Registration and Breakfast
9:10 Short course meeting
9:15–9:30 Start short course
10:20 Long course meeting
10:30 Long course heads to start
10:45 1000 Meter Junior Race
11:15 Early Lunch Available for purchase
11:30 Short Course Awards
12:15 Lunch Available for purchase
1:00 Long Course Awards
1:15-1:30 Raffle (must be present to win) GRAND PRIZE is a HUKI OC-1!!!!
*** PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS SCHEDULE IS APPROXIMATE. CONDITIONS
MAY ARISE THAT MAY REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY ON EVERYONE’S PART.

Here are some notes on the course. First, starts are always crucially important but all the more so at the Hanohano short course. Standup paddle boarders sprint to a bottleneck left turn, hugging the jetty and facing lots of turbulence. Typically, paddlers come within inches of the rocks and the ebb and flow of the ocean, plus the tight pack of the start, make it really difficult to find a clear, calm opening, unless (of course) you are leading the start. So, sprint hard and try to hold a lead to find some clear water. Second, watch the currents. There will be a few turns and twists during the course, especially near jetties. And sometimes the shortest path is not the fastest. The course is close to the mouth of the bay and currents can be tricky, particularly in shallower waters. Keep an eye on the people around you and note whether your path is helping you gain, lose, or hold your lead around the bends. Drafting might be the safest strategy to hold your grounds in shallower water. Other than that, go out, have fun, and share the sup stoke!
Long Course (Approx 9 miles):
(Image here: http://www.hanohano.com/wp-content/uploads/lcmap22.jpg)
Starting Procedure: Line up at North Jetty heading North. Start will be a horn blast from Escort Boat. Please No Running Starts…You’ll be wrecking the race for everyone else. Follow “Lead Boat” to Crystal Pier…Left turn around “Turn Boat” toward the Yukon…approx. 45 degree angle. Left turn on Turn Boat, Head to Turn Buoy off South Jetty…Left Turn on Buoy. Stay to the right (South Jetty) until the line of white 5 MPH Buoys, turn into Bonita Cove. All Paddlers Must finish between two official boats It is the Paddlers responsibility to make sure your number and time are recorded at the finish. Failure to report race number at finish line will result in DNF.
Short Course (4.5 miles):
(www.hanohano.com/wp-content/uploads/Hanohano_Short_course_map_jpeg.jpg)
The Short Course will begin in Bonita Cove marshaled and started by Safety Boat #1.
- First Wave… OC-1, OC-2, Surfskis
- Second Wave… (5 minute delay)… All SUP
- Third Wave… (5 minute delay)… All prone
Participants will proceed to buoy (left hand turn) at entrance to Bonita Cove following the lead safety boat toward Sea World following traffic patterns (stay to right). Left turn #2 will be at a buoy in the mid channel at Sea World at which point participants will paddle counterclockwise around Vacation Island and return to Bonita Cove minding traffic patterns. Finish will be between two official boats anchored in Bonita Cove adjacent to the start. Paddlers must enter the buoy chute and report their race number to the officials on the finish boats. Failure to follow finish procedure will result in a DNF.
****Finish Line Procedure … Don’t mess up****
Mandatory finish will be between 2 anchored boats in Bonita Cove manned with the volunteer timing crew. You MUST paddle trough the chute formed by buoys leading to the Finish boats and report your number in a coherent manner in order for your time to be recorded. Failure to finish between the 2 finish boats and report your number will result in a big DNF. It is the paddler’s responsibility to ensure that your number is heard by the timers. It is extremely helpful if all paddlers sign up in the proper division. If you don’t know what craft you are actually paddling, feel free to ask a volunteer to help identify your craft before you check in so that we can get you accurate results. Please do NOT switch craft after registration as this will affect everyone’s results. Be considerate to the volunteers. Results will be easier to compile if you cooperate with the outlined procedure. ***take note of the people around you when you finish in case any questions arise.